Treadmill Goals/Tracking

• Get on the treadmill (or equivalent exercise) daily
• Pace is fine at 30 min/mile, although I may up it on occasion
• Time range between 30 minutes and 1 hour per day
• Distance 1-2 miles per day
• Read the chosen book. I’m officially modifying my original rule of not reading the book-of-the-week off-treadmill. I’m usually going to look at length and try to divide it up somewhat evenly per day, even if that means either closing that book early (if it’s short) or continuing after (if it’s long).

Week 181: May 10, 2020 – May 16 2020

DAY	PACE	TIME	DISTANCE
Sunday	30 min/mile	30:23 min:sec	1 mile
Monday	30 min/mile	30:29 min:sec	1 mile
Tuesday	30 min/mile	37:58 min:sec	1.2 miles
Wednesday	30 min/mile	48:54 min:sec	1.6 miles
Thursday	30 min/mile	30:31 min:sec	1 mile
Friday	30 min/mile	30:50 min:sec	1 mile
Saturday	30 min/mile	31:59 min:sec	1 mile

What I’m Reading

Note: Although I will try to avoid them, my weekly reading snippets may or may not contain spoilers, so read at your own risk.

I loved the first book in this series, In Pain and Blood, and I’ve been looking forward to this one ever since!

What I #amreading: To Target the Heart by Aldrea Alien (book 2 in the fabulous Spellster Series world)

How can he win with the odds stacked against him?

Prince Hamish has no interest in fulfilling his duty of marrying. Not to a woman, at least. That doesn’t stop his mother, Queen Fiona, from presenting him with every eligible noblewoman that enters their castle. He’s certain it’ll be no different with the representative of the Udynea Empire.


So when they do arrive, Hamish is relieved the imperial prince, Darshan, is not the woman everyone expected. Until the man kisses him and Hamish is confronted by the very emotions he has been forced to conceal or be punished for. Emotions he is eager to explore.

But the kiss proves to be a little too public and leads his mother to take drastic measures to ensure Hamish adheres to her family vision. The contest of arms will force Hamish to make a choice: give up his happiness for convention’s sake or send the kingdom spiralling into civil war for the right to love his own way.

*This book contains violence, attempted suicide and explicit adult themes.*

My favorite lines this week…

✿✿ SUNDAY ✿✿ – Hamish’s POV

Darshan mumbled something as they entered the castle proper.

“What was that?” The snippets Hamish had caught hadn’t sounded like any of the Udynean he’d heard. Just a long word that he couldn’t say with all certainty wasn’t actually the man cussing.

“Just an ancient Domian motto. Translates to Offer mercy to the wounded, in confuses the enemy. My father still trots that one out whenever my sisters squabble.”

✿✿ MONDAY ✿✿ – Darshan’s POV

“And you’re how old again?” Hamish’s open smile took off what could’ve easily have been a harsher edge to his words.

Grinning along with the man, Darshan bumped their hips together. “You are never too old to attempt sneaking things past your parents.”

✿✿ TUESDAY ✿✿ – Hamish’s POV

A warm flutter started up in Hamish’s stomach, spreading until it suffused his whole body. He turned his gaze to their surroundings. It was the only way he could think of anything beyond kissing the man breathless. “Mea lux,” he mused aloud. “You’ve called me that before.” Several times whilst they were in the library. That’d been on the morning after their night together in the guest quarters. He had dismissed it since. “But you’ve nae given me a translation.”

✿✿ WEDNESDAY ✿✿ – Hamish’s POV

His brother brushed the dust from his hands, looking immensely pleased with himself. “Now then, what’s this? I thought two men didnae do sex, that you called it something else?”

“I do.” So did every Tirglasian he’d been with. “Apparently, Udneans dinnae differentiate. And I’m nae pulling your leg. It really was innocent. He was cold and so—”

Deep belly-shaking laughter erupted from his brother. “By the Goddess’ swollen teats.” He slapped his knee. “They use that one in Udynea, too?”

Hamish frowned. What in the Goddess’ good name, was his brother on about?

“I’m cold sleeping all on me lonesome,” Gordon clarified before Hamish could ask, his voice pitched abysmally high. He clasped his hands at his chin and batted his lashes. “Can I come warm meself with you?” His brother arched a brow at him. “You sure I wasnae interrupting a little late-night warming session?”

✿✿ THURSDAY ✿✿ – Hamish’s POV

“…Anyone would think you wanted to die.”

“I do,” Hamish whispered. As soon as the words left his mouth, he wanted to push them back down his throat. Hunching his shoulders, he closed his eyes, not wishing to see Darshan’s expression as he waited for the ridicule he had faced the last time he had tried. “I cannae do it anymore,” he mumbled. “Living this lie. It was different before you came, I couldnae miss what I didnae have. But I ken what it’s like now and I cannae go back.”

✿✿ FRIDAY ✿✿ – Hamish’s POV

“I thought you’d been kicked back to Udynea,” Hamish mumbled. Whilst Darshan had arrived by ship, he didn’t have to leave that way. An escort over land would take longer, but it would see him out of Mullhind within the day. “I thought—”

“That I had left you here to spend the rest of your life screaming on the inside or worst?” Darshan slowed so that they walked side by side. He had lowered the scarf from his face. Apparently, he had found time to shave with his busy schedule—one that didn’t include informing Hamish of his intentions—and sported a style similar to the moustache and short, goat-like beard combo he’d worn upon his arrival. “Do you honestly believe I would choose to have you deal with that toxic woman who dares to claim herself as your mother alone?”

✿✿ SATURDAY ✿✿ – Hamish’s POV

“This again?” Darshan huffed. Pushing the wire frames further up his nose, he peered down at Hamish as if his entire ancestry had been offended. “Well, I do not want a wife. I want you.”